Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-11


though there are still many rooms in it
unfit to be occupied. When l talked
with my wife about the place she told
me that neither she nor her mother be-
lieved in ghosts, but that they had
heard some very strange noises at
night in the other part of the house,
and that her mother had more than
once gone into Mysteries over them.
This, with what l had heard from
others, gave me my clew to my future
course.
In my brief stays in Provincetown
between voyages have skillfully given
out hints that / believed that the spirit
of the old pirate, Lobdell, roamed
through the house on stormy nights.
have really enjoyed seeing the shud-
behring's and pale faces that my stories
on this subject have caused. When 1
have been asked how could live in
such place, 1 have replied that I had
it on my hands and nobody would buy
it. This has satisfied people.
In such a community, made up
largely of sailors and their families,
there is of course much superstition.
These tales about the Lobdell place
were generally believed because people
were ready to believe them.
But why did wish to give my own
property so bad reputation
Simply because 1 had made a treas
ure-house of the cellar under the I'M
used part. and nothing was SO well
calculated to protect it as these re-
ports. The place is stunned. There
is not the least danger from robbers.
Down in the old damp cellar, where
I suppose no foot but mine has passed
for fifty years, 1 found excavated a
great hole, and in it a chest Over the
opening is stone slab, so heavy that
it has tried my strength severely of
late years to raise and lower it. Over
the slab is piled lot of widowed can
vas, rotting planks, and worthless
cordage. stored here by Captain Lob
dell himself. The great deep chest is
full of stout bags of gold, with few of
silver. Year by year I have added to
the store, for twenty years-till it now
holds full fifty thousand dollars.
1t is rather strange, but perfectly
true, that found this place of con-
cealment there, chest, slab, and all,
just as 1 have used it. 1 suppose the
old buccaneer made much use of it in
his lifetime.
My visits to the old cellar have al
ways been made in the dead of night,
or at times when my wife and daughter
were away. There is not anything
certain in this world; but among the
few things that are certain, l believe
you may put down the fact that the
hiding-place of my treasure is not sus-
pected.
return to my wife and daughter.
Nellie is my only child. 1 have told
you that 1 have them both. She is all
that fond father could wish; and her
motherhood bless her!-she has
shown me how noble and good a
woman can be. It's little time l have
spent with them ashore for the last
twenty years; but l think both would
say that have been a kind husband
and father; that 1 have looked well
aIUeT lnefT cOulIOTt, anu always pfO-
vided them with money.
Sometimes Helen has visited her
mothers relatives in Boston, where,
as understand you, you met her.
Tn talking to you, Mr.. Crawford as
though l should be in another world
twenty-four hours hence. You'll
marry Nellie. 1 want you to trust her,
as have never trusted her and her
mother.
There have been times when my
dear wife has sat upon my knee. and
rather timidly said: ''Tell me some
thing of your affairs. Aaron. You
give us money enoughi but if you
should be drowned at sea, pray what
should we know about your property"
And have always put her off with
some joke about my not being drowned
on this voyage, or her ability to get an
other husband. / have said things that
panied her; but Ihave never limited at
the truth